Code of Conduct
Why We Have This
SEAD Club is built on the idea that learning to code is better—and more fun—when you’re doing it with people who respect and support each other. This Code of Conduct exists to make sure everyone feels safe, welcome, and able to contribute without fear of harassment or discrimination.
We’re a community of students from different backgrounds, skill levels, and experiences. That diversity makes us stronger, but it also means we need to be intentional about creating an environment where everyone can thrive.
Bottom line: Be kind, be respectful, and help us build a community where everyone wants to participate.
Our Pledge
We pledge to make participation in SEAD Club a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of:
- Age
- Body size
- Disability (visible or invisible)
- Ethnicity
- Gender identity and expression
- Level of experience or technical skill
- Nationality
- Personal appearance
- Race
- Religion or lack thereof
- Sexual identity and orientation
Whether you’re a first-year student writing your first “Hello World” or a senior shipping production code, you belong here if you treat others with respect.
Expected Behavior
Here’s what we expect from everyone in our community:
Be Welcoming and Inclusive
- Use language that makes people feel included, not othered
- Remember that not everyone has the same background or experience—explain things when needed
- Welcome newcomers and help them feel at home
- Recognize that people learn at different paces and in different ways
Be Respectful
- Respect different viewpoints and experiences, even when you disagree
- Listen to understand, not just to respond
- Acknowledge that there are often multiple valid approaches to solving a problem
- Disagree constructively—critique ideas, not people
Accept Feedback Gracefully
- None of us write perfect code or have all the answers
- When someone points out an issue in your work, treat it as a learning opportunity
- Say “thanks for catching that” instead of getting defensive
- Remember that code reviews and feedback are about making the project better, not attacking you
Focus on the Community
- Make decisions that benefit the group, not just yourself
- Help others when you can—we all benefit when knowledge is shared
- Contribute positively to discussions and projects
- Give credit where credit is due
Show Empathy
- Remember that everyone is dealing with their own challenges
- Be patient when someone is struggling to understand something you find obvious
- Assume good intentions—most mistakes come from misunderstanding, not malice
- Check in on people who seem stressed or overwhelmed
Unacceptable Behavior
These behaviors are not tolerated in SEAD Club, whether online, at meetings, or at events:
Harassment and Discrimination
- Sexualized language, imagery, or unwelcome sexual attention of any kind
- Trolling, insulting comments, or personal attacks
- Deliberate intimidation or stalking (online or in person)
- Discriminatory jokes or language targeting any protected characteristic
- Harassment of any kind, public or private
Disrespectful Conduct
- Sustained disruption of discussions, presentations, or events
- Publishing someone’s private information (doxxing) without permission
- Advocating for or encouraging any of the above behaviors
- Other conduct that could reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional or educational setting
Academic Dishonesty
- While this isn’t primarily an academic club, if you’re working on coursework in our spaces, don’t violate academic integrity policies
- Don’t present others’ work as your own in club projects either
“But I was just joking” is not an excuse. Impact matters more than intent. If someone tells you that something you said or did made them uncomfortable, take it seriously.
Enforcement
We take violations of this Code of Conduct seriously. Here’s how we handle them:
Reporting
If you experience or witness unacceptable behavior, please report it to the club leadership:
- Email: [kenjith3man@gmail.com]
- In person: Talk to any club officer or faculty advisor
- Anonymous: [Add anonymous reporting method if you have one]
All reports will be handled with discretion and confidentiality. We will never share your information without your permission except where legally required.
What Happens Next
When we receive a report:
- We’ll acknowledge receipt within 24-48 hours
- We’ll investigate by talking to relevant parties
- We’ll determine appropriate consequences based on severity and context
- We’ll communicate the outcome to the reporter (within confidentiality limits)
Possible Consequences
Depending on the severity and frequency of the violation, consequences may include:
- Warning: A private conversation about the behavior and why it was problematic
- Temporary ban: Removal from club spaces (physical or digital) for a defined period
- Permanent ban: Permanent removal from the club and all related activities
- Referral: In serious cases, we may refer the matter to university administration
Club leadership reserves the right to determine appropriate consequences on a case-by-case basis.
Appeals
If you believe an enforcement decision was made in error, you can appeal by emailing [appeals email or process]. Appeals will be reviewed by different leadership members than those who made the initial decision.
Scope
This Code of Conduct applies:
- In all club spaces (physical meetings, online chats, GitHub repos)
- At club-sponsored events (workshops, hackathons, social gatherings)
- When representing the club (wearing club merchandise, posting as a club member)
- In one-on-one interactions between club members if the behavior affects someone’s ability to participate
Basically, if it involves SEAD Club or SEAD Club members in their capacity as members, this applies.
Leadership Responsibilities
Club officers and maintainers have extra responsibilities:
- Model the behavior outlined in this Code of Conduct
- Take reports seriously and investigate fairly
- Enforce consequences consistently and transparently (within confidentiality constraints)
- Create an environment where people feel safe reporting issues
- Be willing to step back from decisions where they have a conflict of interest
Leaders who violate this Code of Conduct may face additional consequences, including removal from leadership positions.
Questions?
If you’re unsure whether something violates this Code of Conduct, ask. It’s always better to check than to assume. Reach out to club leadership with questions or concerns at any time.
We want SEAD Club to be a place where you can learn, grow, make mistakes, and build cool things without fear. This Code of Conduct exists to protect that environment for everyone.
Attribution
This Code of Conduct is adapted from the Contributor Covenant, version 2.0, available at https://www.contributor-covenant.org/version/2/0/code_of_conduct.html.
For answers to common questions about codes of conduct, see the Contributor Covenant FAQ.
Last updated: 19/12/2025